Senior Program Officer, Pandemic Product Development & Clinical, Vaccine Development

Company: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Location: Washington
Posted on: May 31, 2025

Job Description:

The FoundationWe are the largest nonprofitfighting poverty, disease, and inequity around the world. Founded on a simple premise: people everywhere, regardless of identity or circumstances, should have the chance to live healthy, productive lives. We believe our employees should reflect the rich diversity of the global populations we aim to serve.We provide an exceptional benefits package to employees and their families which include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with no premiums, generous paid time off, paid family leave, foundation-paid retirement contribution, regional holidays, and opportunities to engage in several employee communities.As a workplace, we're committed to creating an environment for you to thrive both personally and professionally.The TeamOur Global Health (GH) program harnesses advances in science and technology to save lives in poor countries. We focus on the health problems that have a major impact in developing countries but get too little attention and funding. Where tools exist, we support sustainable ways to improve their delivery. Where they don't, we invest in research and development of new interventions, such as vaccines, drugs, and diagnostics. Our work in infectious diseases focuses on strategies to fight and prevent HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, neglected tropical diseases, enteric and diarrheal diseases, pneumonia, and maternal, newborn and child health. These strategies are supported by functional & cross cutting teams that focus on Discovery and Translational Sciences, Vaccine Development, Innovation Introduction, and Integrated Development. The Vaccine Development (VDev) team's vision is to ensure a secure and sustainable supply of consistently high quality, appropriately priced vaccines that are efficiently delivered to meet the needs of global health populations - whether through our direct product development efforts, functional support to program strategy teams, investments in technology development or technical advocacy in the vaccine development ecosystem.Your RoleAs a key member of the Vaccine Development team, the Senior Program Officer, Pandemic Product Development & Clinical, Vaccine Development is accountable for a portfolio of investments and partnerships on priority product development efforts. These will consist of leading our partnership with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations and other pandemic/epidemic related grants and driving the associated strategy, as well as providing subject matter expertise to clinical vaccine development programs across the Global Health portfolio. You will provide clinical leadership, program management, strategy development and communications on Vaccine Development priorities, Product Development Partners, and other foundation partners. You will also partner closely with the Deputy Director (DD), Integrated Clinical Development, and Deputy Director (DD), Chemicals, Manufacturing and Controls (CMC) to contribute to the continued development of the team's strategic vision including participating in the setting of the overall strategy and goals for the groupWhat You'll Do

• Define strategy for and lead the pandemic product development portfolio, working closely with the Deputy Director of Integrated Clinical Vaccines Development.
• Partner closely with team leadership, including the Director, DD Integrated Clinical Vaccines Development, DD CMC Vaccine Development, and DD Strategy, Planning and Management to communicate and implement the overall Vaccine Development strategy.
• Act as foundation "Project Lead" for priority vaccine development programs
• Negotiate, implement, and manage a portfolio of grants or performance-based contracts; including alignment of internal and external stakeholders, review of letters of inquiry and grant proposals as well as providing clear, concise and insightful written analyses and recommendations for funding.
• Consult, provide thought partnership, and support to grantees and other partners to maximize the impact of projects and the creation of well-integrated vaccine development plans, clinical study designs, statistical analysis plans, and clinical assays for vaccine clinical studies.
• Serve as an advisor on clinical vaccine study design; including the review of protocols, analysis plans, and clinical sections of regulatory dossiers.
• Bring forward innovative ideas for enabling more rapid, cost-effective and geographically diverse clinical development of vaccines and biologics
• Provide senior-level technical clinical vaccine development expertise for internal Program Strategy Teams (PSTs) and partners.
• Provide technical guidance and support on the foundation process for Integrated Product Development Plans (IPDPs) and the development process including definition of critical milestones and stage gates. Support product development process as defined by the foundation for our internal and external partners.
• Represent the foundation and program to the external world as relates to position responsibilities:
  • Forge collaborations with key global experts in vaccine development.
  • Work with external advisors to maintain cutting edge approaches to vaccine development.
  • Represent foundation interests in developing networks for the program.
    • Play a strategic role on clinical vaccine development related issues relevant to regulatory interactions and submissions
    • Identify and cultivate partners to build coalitions and achieve objectives; manage partnerships to achieve impact
    • Serve as a leadership partner and technical resource to grantees to achieve strategic objectives
    • Attend internal meetings to represent Clinical and Vaccine Development as well as being a representative of the foundation at external meetings
    • Active search for and create opportunities to develop new partnerships and between external partners that will advance GH programs
    • This role will require the ability to travel up to 30% domestically and internationally.Your Experience We are looking for people who enjoy the opportunity of working on complex projects and collaboratively creating solutions that have the potential for transformational change. We seek a self-starter who can integrate a diverse set of perspectives to build consensus, structure and drive forward progress on complex topics, and provide both strategic and operational capacity to the Vaccine Development team.
      • PhD and/or MD with 15+ years of experience work in one or more of the following areas: clinical research & development, vaccine development, infectious diseases and/or immunology
      • Experience in polio or other epidemic infectious diseases, and/or working with different vaccine platforms a plus
      • Industry experience as a project lead for a vaccine or biologics product
      • Experience developing and managing cross-functional product development plans
      • Extensive knowledge of clinical vaccine research from phase 1 through phase 4 including excellent statistical knowledge
      • Tolerance for ambiguity and ability to apply structure to simplify complex problems
      • An understanding of regulatory requirements necessary for various phases of vaccine and biologics development
      • Commitment to innovation and advancing new technologies in vaccine development
      • Intellectual quickness, curiosity, discipline, resourcefulness and resilience
      • Demonstrated ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, and enthusiasm in a fast-paced and complex internal and external environment
      • Experience working with partners in low and middle income countries
      • Experience with business and technical due diligence assessments of potential corporate, product or technology investments; ability to synthesize technical and commercial information towards strategic decision making
      • Strong judgment with a demonstrated ability to handle complex issues, multiple tasks, confidential information, and competing priorities with skill, discretion, a strong attention to detail, flexibility and diplomacy
      • Exceptional listening, verbal, and written communication skills, able to effectively calibrate input and synthesize information to connect with diverse audiences
      • Demonstrated experience in scientific writing and data analysis, written and oral communication skills, and experience advocating and communicating with a broad and diverse audience
      • Solid understanding of the realities and complexities of matrix-based organizations
      • Experience in working on teams with diverse culture and professional backgroundsOther Attributes
        • Comfortable in a wide range of cultural, geographic, and operational situations, demonstrating culturally-sensitive behavior
        • Strong interpersonal and diplomatic skills.
        • Excellent relationshipmanagement skills to develop trusting and productive relationships with a wide range ofcolleagues, dignitaries, leaders, grantees, consultants and other partners.
        • Commitment to transparency and real-time information sharing
        • Ability to work with flexibility, efficiency, enthusiasm, and diplomacy both individually and as part of a team effort
        • Demonstrated passion for the Foundation's values and commitment to deliver results against the Foundation's missionThe salary range for this role is $233,600 to $362,200 USD. We recognize high-wage market differences in Seattle and Washington D.C., where our offices are located. The range for this role in these locations is $254,700 to $394,700 USD. As a mission-driven organization, we strive to balance competitive pay with our mission. New hires salaries are typically between the range minimum and the salary range midpoint. Actual placement in the range will depend on a candidate's job-related skills, experience, and expertise, as evaluated during the interview process.#LI-CM1Hiring RequirementsAs part of our standard hiring process for new employees, employment will be contingent upon successful completion of a background check.Candidate AccommodationsIf you require assistance due to a disability in the application or recruitment process, please submit a request .Inclusion StatementWe are dedicated to the belief that all lives have equal value. We strive for a global and cultural workplace that supports ever greater diversity, equity, and inclusion - of voices, ideas, and approaches - and we support this diversity through all our employment practices.All applicants and employees who are drawn to serve our mission will enjoy equality of opportunity and fair treatment without regard to race, color, age, religion, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, genetic information, veteran status, marital status, and prior protected activity.Required
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Keywords: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Lancaster , Senior Program Officer, Pandemic Product Development & Clinical, Vaccine Development, Healthcare , Washington, Pennsylvania